Act 1: Chapter 1: A Change of Season

[BabyJ]

Harold (the mayor) downs the last of his drink, which is probably more than he'd drank since you arrived. "It seems some of you here don't mind having a drink before getting to the point. It's good to know not all the mirth is gone in this room." The Lord Mayor grinned slightly at both Vidore and Immeral before looking at Vered. Then at everyone else questioningly, as if waiting for confirmation. He quickly recovered and stood up straight after considering Vered's comments. He started to frown slightly, and then looked at Vered as he said: "I won't say it surprises me. It's not the first time I've been received this way." Standing, and spreading his arms for dramatic effect:"Always straight to business with your clergy, then?"

The dwarves each drank a healthy gulp and finished their drinks before wiping their lips. There was a wave of concern showing on Darl's face, as he looked longingly at the emblem on the kegs.

OOC:
* Passively: All of you sense now that Darl was very comfortable with the Mayor's demeanor, but that Kildrak was still having a hard time dealing with him personally (also doing a good job of hiding it, from Harold at least). It seemed that Vered and Kildrak obviously wanted to skip to the business and the others did not, and while Harold was not happy about this:
* Vidore seemed in moderate to good control of the room's mood: read the block
* Jonn took notice of something: read the block

OOC:
Jonn
-you could sense they were being honest in wanting to warm up to you, but as a precursor to what exactly?
-Kildrak seemed to be just warming up to these two, and a bit overwhelmed by the meeting. Kildrak also seemed oddly more nervous as things progressed, unlike his brother Darl and Harold.
-Harold's actions seemed directed at warming your group up to do something for him
=Your character is being pretty darned astute right now btw..Insight Perception http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2423819/. You caught Kildrak looking at you while you surveyed the room.

Vidore
-you feel you can make this go better using some a little more smooth talking Diplomacy: http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/2423819/.

[BabyJ]

[OOC: almost forgot drunk checks ]

Immeral tasted a delicious mixture in the ale, one wrought from fine hops, cinnamon, and vanilla. It only took a few moments to feel a nice warmth course through his body. Miraculously he wasn't dizzy after downing this strong ale so quickly.


Immeral read:

using my drinking variant (see link below), Immeral you are slightly tipsy but not yet affected by the first negative effect of drinking, that being Dazed, but you will have a tougher time staying sober the more you drink. Rolls and mechanics:
- 1st Drunk Check
- drunk check 2 +6 attack, +2 for strong drink, +2 for drinking and not waiting an hour, +2 for drinking it in less than 1/3 of an hour, (this roll includes the +'s in the roll's input, the first did not but was +8) (1d20+12=14)

drinking variant, post #16: http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/ ... #390144521

[Kirnon_Bhale]

Looking about at his companions Jonn is surprised to see that they don't seem to have noticed as much as he himself has, moreso because Jonn is fully aware that he is not the most insightful person in the world, nor is he used to dealing with 'Higher Ups'.

Feeling a little sheepish at his outburst, Jonn resolves to sit back and let his companions take their turns. His anger is still very evident and he is afraid that he might say something that they will all come to regret later.

Jonn avoids the drinks on offer and moves to stand by near a wall where he can keep an eye on both the door and the occupants of this room.

OOC:

Jonn, will try and keep track of the mood in the room and try and see if the Mayor and the dwarves become less jumpy. If possible he will try and let Immeral know what he has caught regarding the vibe he is getting from the Mayor and dwarves.

[BabyJ]

In response to Jonn's change of position, Vidore senses this is the time to smooth things over. He redirects the attention of the room to himself, and recounts the tale of how the tiefling were killed. Any mention of death seemed to make the mayor a little flustered, and when Vidore speaks again he attempts to use his most nonchalant, soothing, friendly face; simultaneously humoring the Mayor's chit-chat for a short time, while truthfully waiting for a point when the opportunity arose to redirect back to the 'the point'. When there is a natural stopping point in the conversation, he will speak up about getting to the purpose of this meeting if it hasn't been mentioned already.

OOC, Read:

this is your characters' chance to say/do anything else you want to before I proceed. so far i have moved slower since Jonn is getting bad vibes. i have a post composed but we're down one (Vidore/S-marrow), and I noticed there might be someone else who wants to do something sneaky (again, Jonn) while the mayor gets all friendly. this scene may provide some clues about events you would not have been given otherwise (more related to the other quest), so i will leave this open for another day for actions if you wish to be sleuthful, and i will run it accordingly from there. NOTE: I don't forsee Jonn picking up anything else from the scene without a sufficient change of situation..

[BabyJ]

EDIT: Adding Jonn's communication to Immeral.

Immeral noticed as Vidore started talking, that Jonn was trying to tell him something. He was giving the look of someone who had a bad feeling about something. It could only be assumed this was in response to the situation at hand.

Following Vidore's tale, Harold spoke again, this time giving a third-person telling of what happened to Kildrak on the way here from Eldryd. Kildrak broke in finally, to tell it right: "I didn't get ambushed, everyone else did. I thought I heard something but no one bothered to check it out. The noise alerted me of the possible danger, and as soon I felt the carriage rocking, I knew I had to make a break for it. It was middle of the night, and I had heard the stories...

"I ran and didn't look back, far as I could go. When morning came, I went back to find my caravan was slaughtered. And there was a piece of spine there, laid like so...on some innards." He said this last statement, illustrating with his stubby fingers a dainty gesture like putting a cherry on top of a cake. He appeared ashamed at the mention of gore when he noticed Harold's queasy expression. Kildrak looked emotionally wounded and angry about the attack. He panned to the rest of the room, letting the weight of his words sink in.

[OOC: This is local lore, which all of you can recall having heard before as a child's story; rumors of dragonborn that are vicious, and not at all honorable.]

It was well-known what the frightened farmers in Eldryd said about cloaked dragons that strike like thieves in the shadows. The killers' calling card was supposedly a polished piece of human spine laid on top of a rolled up intestine, and of course a mass killing. Since no proof was ever found to support the claims that any specific race or organization committed the murders, or that anyone civilized lived in the mountains on the west side of the Great Bowl, the stories were dismissed. Kids began telling these like ghost stories after awhile, eventually making their way to nearby settlements in the Great Bowl.

Kildrak straightened his back, and began speaking with pride once again. "I did leave the scene once again, and it's lucky I wasn't very far out when it happened, just on the outskirts of the Draugma Woods. So I kept walkin on, and it wasn't until I came to a farmhouse that I met anyone along the way. Thankfully, the man was kind enough to sell me his horse after hearing what had happened, which I rode the rest of the way here."

After a moment, Harold spoke: "Dreadful thing... which brings me forthright to my next point of concern." The mayor claps his hands together once, and seemed very pleased. Darl seemed a bit perturbed that the mayor switched topics from his brother's near-death so quickly and nonchalantly. Harold directs his attention to the dwarves for a moment: "These four are probably wanting to get on with it, so I will just say it." Looking at the four: "I, well, we.. need you to escort some valuable cargo to Eldryd."

Briefly looking at his brother, Darl said: "Now I don't believe in children's stories, but something is definitely afoot in that region, and I don't have faith in the competencies of the merchants or the guards to protect these things."

The Mayor nodded to him, and continued: "Through those very same woods, and through the same territory in which Kildrak was attacked. You would be escorting a stack of boxed up inventions that Darl cooked up, and guarding them on their way to Eldryd. Also in this cargo will be something my son holds very dear, the wedding dress of his passed wife. When you arrive you need only take the items to the constable, and he will take care of the rest."

"Oh of course.." he said, placing his hand on his chest, fingers splayed. He completely ignored that your lives would be in danger and continued: "Where are my manners? The matter of money! With the extra money that the researcher types in Eldryd fronted for the inventions, I think we can afford to make sure everything gets there in one piece. If it weren't for the obvious incompetence of the local lawmen, I would probably have some of them take care of it. Only one I can depend on in a serious situation is Marcel, and I am not sending him off to Eldryd for over a week!

"There is usually work there as well, which demands such one-of-a-kind skills. I am sure you will find the trip worthwhile.

"So, I will send word to Eldryd's bank to have you compensed upon your arrival with the letter I will draw up for you? The delivery will net you 750 gold pieces." The Lord Mayor made it sound more like a statement than a question.

[Aedleth]

Immeral finally dropped his cowl, thinking it was at least a bit unpolite to talk like a necromancer to his lackeys. The warmth of the drink seemed to lessen the tight grip on his lips and his rather unexpressive face. He did not say anything, but his figure reflected concern and approval.

[OOC]

Immeral's intention is to make Kildrak think that he agrees with him, so as to make him feel less nervous.

[DaviTheEccentric]

Vered considers the Lord-Mayor's offer carefully. "So, you wish for us to guard your caravan, and bring these bandits to justice if at all possible?" A smile spreads across his face as he reaches forward to shake his hand. "Yes, I do believe I can do that. Now, forgive me for leaving so soon, but Bharash also wishes to speak with me, and I fear I have left him waiting much too long already. I'll be sure to send you word should his request conflict too heavily with your own. Have a good day, Mayor." With that, Vered stands up and begins to walk to the elevator.

OOC:

Let's see, that would probably be an Insight check(+17) on his request as a whole, and a Diplomacy check(+8) to not seem like too much of a jerk for leaving.

[BabyJ]

EDIT: changed the last line to "If I dont see any action by tomorrow.."

Harold stops you to explain: "I am not the least bit upset about you having to leave. I have some of my own business to attend to in the near future, such as drawing up the letter for you. As for the bandits, I hope they are as fairy-tale as the stories, though I am more inclined to believe them now.."

Kildrak took his goggles off, letting them rest on his forehead. The Lord Mayor continued: "I will give you the letter in the morning, and have everything loaded up after that. I suggest you make any arrangements prior to then, as one condition is that you get everything there in a reasonable time frame. Its a four-day trip, two days to the Eldryd forest, and two days more from there. Eight days or more, or if things are missing..well I will also have noted that you will only receive 375gp, and the missing things' value will be deducted from your payment."" It was Sunday night, the morrow being Monday, that would put your arrival at Thursday evening.

Darl: "Since time is an issue here, the whole reason for the trip: I want that time provision we talked about added to their note as motivation."

Lord Mayor Harold considered this for a moment, and said: "Very well, if you don't mind paying?" Darl nodded his agreement. "Then the note will reflect that if you deliver the full shipment in four days or less from tomorrow, then you are to get 1200 gold pieces instead of 750.

"Aye, it would please me greatly for them to get there expeditiously," Darl commented.

"And for heaven's sakes: Don't lose the dress!" the Mayor blurted suddenly. "I have stake in the goods as well, but that dress is the last thing I can have go missing; it's irreplaceable, and I know my son would spot a fake in a moment."

OOC:

Immeral: it seemed your comforting gait did not go unnoticed. Kildrak appeared less apprehensive just before moving his goggles to his forehead.

Vered: noticed that the heavier, goggled dwarf, Kildrak grew more tense through the conversation; maybe even preoccupied.

Jonn and Vered: His story about the attack did seem genuine, so it wasn't clear what was bothering him, but then you saw Kildrak relaxed; just before he moved his goggles to his forehead, he seemed less apprehensive. The look on his face when Vered mentioned Bharash suggested interest in your next meeting. Also, you could both sense the mayor's comparative calm after voicing his request. He seemed he was initially nervous about the meeting, considering his lack of social skills (he had gotten his position through wealth more than charm it would seem).

You can keep talking to him if you want, or leave as Davi just said. If I don't see any action by tomorrow night, I'll consider that an indication you are leaving, and move forward.

[BabyJ]

Marcel merely watches as you leave, the tiefling pulling the lever to activate the elevator. The dwarven guard was still there at the bottom of the elevator, picking at his fingernails. Exiting the building you see the sun is mostly down, and a sliver of moon in the sky. There is also the familiar purple star dimly shining against the darkening azure expanse.

Heading towards the temple in town, you see the streets are mostly empty, save for a few patrons entering and exiting the soon-to-be-busy pubs, and those returning home from work. Spotting a pub which already had several patrons but seemed quiet and in need of livening, Vidore stops for a moment. He strokes Dulcimer, and begins speaking to the tiny rodent: "You hungry? You say there's full pockets in there too?". The rat squeaked in response. With no hesitation, he began trotting off towards the bar: "Uh..I'll have to catch up with you later; never cared much for temples anyways. I won't be far!" he called out as he entered. You could see him stop momentarily inside the door, and heard him call out a greeting to the bored patrons. Seemed he was already shaking things up in there..

Ahead, the temple's pointed iron fence obscured nothing, but stood around the inner courtyard which surrounded the stone building. A door shuts loudly nearby; looking towards the direction from which the sound came, the three saw Gaston standing outside of Flint's jail. He had a look of pride and relief on his face, but appeared bewildered for a moment before spotting the deva, human, and eladrin. Gaston did not see Vidore around. The dragonborn walked towards them, and beamed as he explained that his parole would be officially over within the hour, pending the constable's signature. Seeing the direction they were all facing, it was clear they were heading for the temple straight ahead.

OOC: Gonna give Gaston's character some time to reintroduce himself, and declare his desire to join back up and why. Hopefully Marrow will be back by the time you guys leave or anything else happens, so I can bring him back in then.

[XiahouXu]

Gaston smiles wide, though his curiosity over the absence of Vidore within the group is noted in a slight falter of his expression as he approaches..
"A wonderful fine day it is, non?" A great theatrical bow as he saunters jovially towards them is more than enough to reveal that he'd been returned his weapons, and that he appeared to be much the same old Gaston they'd all encountered previously.
"Y'know, I can't say much for the accomodation, but the food was superb... It'll be a shame to leave the old place." His expression changed to one of mock sadness and repentence. "But truly friends! I've learnt all the errors of my ways!" The Dragonborn's grin was wide by now, before turning to a fairly neutral expression and walking on, as he attempted to descend into conversation.
"So, what've you lot been up to while I've been trying to strike fires with our dear friend Flint's ice cold heart?"